Watch Saigon in bloom at this botanical garden

As its picturesque flower beds are exploding into full bloom, Nhi Binh Ward of Ho Chi Minh City’s Hoc Mon District is the most sought-after photo op of this season.

Only 15 kilometers away from the city center, the botanical garden in Nhi Binh spreads over an acreage of no less than 14,000 square meters.

It preserves and propagates a wide range of flowers, from lavender, water lilies, sunflowers, roses, spider flowers, garden cosmos, cockscomb flowers, and Scorpion grasses, among others.

Vo Ha Anh Tu, owner of the garden, is a long-time flower enthusiast, who has spent years touring Vietnam to collect the best varieties of flowers.

The broad repertoire of samples was then brought to life, creating a photographic scene in the middle of the bustling southern city.

“I want to bring a laid-back atmosphere to Saigon residents to spend leisure time away from the hubbub and pollution of the city,” Tu said, referring to the old name of the city still in popular use now.

“I’m humbled by the support of the many people who have come to my place to visit and relax.”

The splendid charm of the place has caught the attention of the young, who are arriving to immerse themselves in the laid-back ambience as well as capturing the perfect flora moments.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, 24, from Binh Thanh District, brought her family to Nhi Binh for a staycation after learning of the place through social media tips.

“I did not know such a majestic flower bed like the gardens in Da Lat could exist in Saigon. I will definitely return to this place with my friends and family members,” Anh said enthusiastically.

Preempting a substantial rise in footfall to the garden in the near future, the owner Tu has considered more homestay premises to provide accommodations for visitors staying overnight.

She also envisions a chemical-free farmstead on the premise, which will allow visitors to pick and bring the crops home.